Method for creating a verified food source

ABSTRACT

A method for creating a verified food source comprises planting verified seed in accordance with planting protocols to create a crop, growing the crop in accordance with crop protocols, harvesting the crop in accordance with harvest protocols to obtain grain, storing the grain in accordance with storage protocols, inspecting the grain to identify grain that meets predetermined grain standards, verifying the grain that meets the predetermined grain standards, feeding the verified grain to a certified food source, fostering the food source in accordance with fostering protocols, inspecting the food source to identify food source that meets the fostering protocols, and verifying the food source that meets the fostering protocols.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/172,328, filed Jun. 30, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,533,490, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to a method for creating a verified food source.

Multiple references may be found in the prior art that disclose methods of recording and accessing data so that a food source's history may be reviewed after a problem has been detected with the food source. While these disclosures may be useful in stopping disease outbreaks, locating contaminated food sources, and sometimes locating a source of contamination, it would be much more efficient and safe to verify the food source and detect problems earlier. Further, as technologies used in the foods industries continue to rapidly evolve, many people want to know the direct history of food before they eat it.

In response to this need, a method has been devised to create a verified food source (a food source having ensured traits). According to this inventive method, a verified food source may be “natural”, or it may include extraordinary traits through the transfer of genetic properties from verified seed to the verified food source. “Food” as used herein is inclusive of drink as well as traditional solid food.

A method for creating a verified food source according to the present invention comprises planting verified seed in accordance with planting protocols to create a crop, growing the crop in accordance with crop protocols, harvesting the crop in accordance with harvest protocols to obtain grain, storing the grain in accordance with storage protocols, inspecting the grain to identify grain that meets predetermined grain standards, verifying the grain that meets the predetermined grain standards, feeding the verified grain to a certified food source, fostering the food source in accordance with fostering protocols, inspecting the food source to identify food source that meets the fostering protocols, and verifying the food source that meets the fostering protocols.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a flow chart illustrating a method for creating a verified food source according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a flow chart illustrating a method for creating a verified food source according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram illustrating planting protocols.

FIG. 4 shows a table of acceptable number of buffer rows corresponding to a minimum distance between a corn crop and corn outside the corn crop.

FIG. 5 shows a block diagram illustrating crop protocols.

FIG. 6 shows a block diagram illustrating harvest protocols.

FIG. 7 shows a block diagram illustrating storage protocols.

FIG. 8 shows a block diagram illustrating predetermined grain standards.

FIG. 9 shows a block diagram illustrating fostering protocols.

FIG. 10 shows a flow chart illustrating the progression from seed to crop to grain to food source.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A method for creating a verified food source according to the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 through 10 of the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a flow chart illustrating a method 100 for creating a verified food source 140. At step S1, verified seed 110 is planted in accordance with planting protocols 112 to create a crop 120. Verified seed 110 is seed having certified identity and purity.

The planting protocols 112 may include any protocols intended to ensure the identity, purity, and productivity of the planted seed 110. As shown in FIG. 3, the planting protocols 112 preferably include an acceptable crop rotation 112 a (such as corn or soybeans, alfalfa, wheat, and sorghum or barley,) an acceptable number of buffer rows 112 b, a predetermined distance 112 c between the crop 120 and specified plants (such as 680 feet between a corn crop 120 and popcorn or sweet corn), and contaminant regulations 112 d. The buffer rows 112 b restrict the crop 120 from cross-pollinating with other plants and crops, and a preferred number of acceptable buffer rows 112 b for a corn crop 120 are shown in FIG. 4. If the minimum distance between the corn crop 120 and corn outside the corn crop 120 is 620 feet, 420 feet, 220 feet, or 80 feet, respectively, the corresponding acceptable minimum number of buffer rows is preferably 0, 6, 12, or 16, respectively, as shown in FIG. 4. The contaminant regulations 112 d preferably require all implements, machinery, and facilities directly involved with the seed 110 to be kernel clean. “Kernel clean” means free from foreign grain and contaminants. The method 100 then proceeds to step S2.

At step S2, the crop 120 is grown in accordance with crop protocols 122 intended to ensure the identity, purity, and productivity of the crop 120. The crop protocols 122 may include regulations regarding adding any substance to the crop 120. As shown in FIG. 5, the crop protocols 122 preferably include insecticide regulations 122 a, pesticide regulations 122 b, herbicide regulations 122 c, fungicide regulations 122 d, contaminant regulations 122 e, maintaining the buffer rows 112 b, and maintaining the predetermined distance 112 c between the crop 120 and specified plants. The contaminant regulations 122 e are preferably an extension of the contaminant regulations 112 d and preferably require that all implements and machinery directly involved with the crop 120 be kernel clean. The method then proceeds to step S3.

At step S3, the crop 120 is harvested in accordance with harvest protocols 124 to obtain grain 130. As shown in FIG. 6, the harvest protocols 124 preferably include contaminant regulations 124 a and regulations 124 b requiring grain from the buffer rows 112 b to be permanently separated from the grain from the crop 120. The grain from the buffer rows 112 b may be used or sold, but it may not be referred to as the grain 130 from the crop 120 and may not be verified. The contaminant regulations 124 a are preferably an extension of the contaminant regulations 112 d and preferably require that all implements and machinery directly involved with harvesting the crop 120 be kernel clean. The method then proceeds to step S4.

At step S4, the grain 130 harvested from the crop 120 is stored in accordance with storage protocols 132. As shown in FIG. 7, the storage protocols 132 preferably include contaminant regulations 132 a and storage structure regulations 132 b. The contaminant regulations 132 a are preferably an extension of the contaminant regulations 124 a and preferably require that all implements, machinery, and facilities directly involved with transporting and storing the grain 130 be kernel clean. The storage structure regulations 132 b are preferably focused on the physical location where the grain 130 is stored, and the storage structure regulations 132 b preferably require a sound foundation and sidewalls to restrict contamination by insects and rodents, a good roof and watershed to protect the grain 130 from water damage and rot, and a safe and efficient apparatus for expulsion of the grain 130. The method then proceeds to step S5.

At step S5, the grain 130 is inspected to identify grain 130 that meets predetermined grain standards 134. The predetermined grain standards 134 are a set of predetermined criteria used to judge and grade the grain 130. As shown in FIG. 8, the predetermined grain standards 134 preferably include a minimum test weight 134 a, a maximum moisture content 134 b, a maximum damage content 134 c, a maximum foreign material content 134 d, and a maximum mycotoxin content 134 e. For a corn crop 130, for example, the minimum test weight 134 a is preferably 56 lbs/bushel, the maximum moisture content is preferably fifteen percent, the maximum damage content is preferably four percent, and the maximum foreign material content is preferably three percent. The method then proceeds to step S6.

At step S6, the grain 130 that meets the predetermined grain standards 134 is verified. The method then proceeds to step S7.

At step S7, the verified grain 130 is fed to a certified food source 140. A certified food source 140 is a food source having certified identity. The method then proceeds to step S8.

At step S8, the food source 140 is fostered in accordance with fostering protocols 142. As shown in FIG. 9, the fostering protocols 142 preferably include identification regulations 142 a, vaccination regulations 142 b, hormone regulations 142 c, antibiotic regulations 142 d, rations regulations 142 e, separation regulations 142 f, documentation regulations 142 g, and humane treatment regulations 142 h. The identification regulations 142 a preferably require the food source 140 to be identified, such as by ear tag or electronic identification, at all times. The vaccination regulations 142 b may place requirements on what vaccinations must, may, or may not be administered to the food source 140 at different times. The hormone regulations 142 c may place requirements on what hormones must, may, or may not be administered to the food source 140. The antibiotic regulations 142 d may place requirements on what antibiotics may or may not be administered to the food source 140. The rations regulations 142 e may place requirements on what feed and how much feed may be fed to the food source 140. It is to be understood that the food source 140 may be fed a combination of various verified grains 130. The separation regulations 142 f may place requirements on when the food source 140 must be separated from other food source 140, such as due to disease, making the separated food source 140 no longer eligible to be verified. The documentation regulations 142 g may require various information to be documented, such as where vaccinations were purchased, the name of the vaccination, the lot or serial number of the vaccination, dates the vaccination was administered, locations where the vaccination was administered, etc. The humane treatment regulations 142 h preferably require the food source 140 to be treated humanely, such as by prohibiting cattle prods and electric shockers. The genetic regulations 142 i may place requirements on what genetic materials must, may, or may not be administered to the food source 140. The method then proceeds to step S9.

At step S9, the food source 140 is inspected to identify food source 140 that meets the fostering protocols 142. The method then proceeds to step S10.

At step S10, the food source 140 that meets the fostering protocols 142 is verified.

FIG. 2 shows another flow chart illustrating the method 100 for creating the verified food source 140. At step S1 a, adherence to the planting protocols 112 is audited. At step S2 a, adherence to the crop protocols 122 is audited. At step S3 a, adherence to the harvest protocols 124 is audited. At step S4 a, adherence to the storage protocols 132 is audited. These audits may occur with or without notice and are intended to ensure that the protocols 112, 122, 124, 132 are followed and to detect lapses therein. It is important to note that these audits may occur multiple times and at various steps of the method 100. For example, adherence to the storage protocols 132 may be audited before the grain 130 is stored at step S4 as well as after the grain 130 is stored at step S4.

Utilizing the method 100 creates a food source 140 having ensured traits. This is beneficial in numerous ways. For example, a history of the food source 140 need not be reviewed to control a disease outbreak because the food source 140 has undergone the verification process. For another example, the food source 140 may be undoubtedly raised according to desired standards set by the protocols 112, 122, 124, 132, 142. This means that the food source 142 may be fed grain 130 having a desired identity and purity and that the food source 142 may be fostered hormone-free, antibiotic-free, with synthetic hormones, etc. If the food source 140 were bovine, for example, the animal may be raised “naturally” (free of synthetic hormones, antibiotics, pesticides, etc.) or in a manner that produces desirable extraordinary traits in meat, milk, or another consumable product. Meat high in omega-3 fatty acids, for example, may be produced by following the method 100 using a corn seed that produces a corn grain 130 higher in omega-3 fatty acids than occurs naturally. In other words, the method 100 may provide a verified transfer of genetic properties from seed 110 to the food source 140.

It is understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable functional equivalents thereof. 

1. A method of verifying a food source comprising: (A) determining from at least one audit that verified seed has been planted in accordance with a planting protocol to create a crop, the planting protocol requiring sufficient buffer rows of plants and a sufficient distance between the crop and plants beyond the buffer rows to restrict the crop from cross-pollinating with other plants; (B) determining from at least one audit that the crop has been grown in accordance with crop protocols; the crop protocols including at least one insecticide regulation, at least one pesticide regulation, at least one herbicide regulation, at least one fungicide regulation, maintaining the buffer rows, and maintaining the distance between the crop and the plants beyond the buffer rows; (C) determining from at least one audit that the crop has been harvested in accordance with harvest protocols to obtain grain, the harvest protocols requiring grain from the buffer rows to be permanently separated from the grain from the crop, the harvest protocols requiring all machinery directly used in harvesting the crop to meet an acceptable cleanliness standard; (D) determining from at least one audit that at least a portion of the grain harvested from the crop has been fed to the food source; and (E) only verifying the food source if steps (A) through (D) have occurred.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: (F) determining from at least one audit that the grain has been stored in accordance with storage protocols, the storage protocols including at least one storage structure regulation and at least one contaminant regulation; (G) determining from at least one audit that the portion of the grain in step (D) meets grain standards addressing test weight, moisture content, damage content, foreign material content, and mycotoxin content; and wherein the food source is only verified in step (E) if steps (A) through (D) and steps (F) and (G) have occurred.
 3. The method of claim 2, further comprising: (H) determining from at least one audit that the food source has been fostered in accordance with fostering protocols; wherein the fostering protocols include at least one identification regulation, at least one vaccination regulation, at least one hormone regulation, at least one antibiotic regulation, at least one ration regulation, at least one separation regulation, at least one documentation regulation, at least one genetic regulation, and at least one humane treatment regulation; and wherein the food source is only verified in step (E) if steps (A) through (D) and steps (F) through (H) have occurred.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the food source is bovine.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the verified seed causes the resulting verified grain to be higher in omega-3 fatty acids than occurs naturally.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the crop is a corn crop.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the acceptable cleanliness standard for the harvest protocols is kernel clean.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein one party planted the seed and another party fed the grain to the food source.
 9. The method of claim 1, further comprising: (F) determining from at least one audit that the food source has been fostered in accordance with fostering protocols; and wherein the fostering protocols include at least one identification regulation, at least one vaccination regulation, at least one hormone regulation, at least one antibiotic regulation, at least one ration regulation, at least one separation regulation, at least one documentation regulation, at least one genetic regulation, and at least one humane treatment regulation; and wherein the food source is only verified in step (E) if steps (A) through (D) and step (F) have occurred.
 10. A method of verifying a harvested crop, comprising: (A) determining from at least one audit that verified seed has been planted in accordance with a planting protocol to create a crop, the planting protocol requiring sufficient buffer rows of plants and a sufficient distance between the crop and plants beyond the buffer rows to restrict the crop from cross-pollinating with other plants; (B) determining from at least one audit that the crop has been grown in accordance with crop protocols; the crop protocols including at least one insecticide regulation, at least one pesticide regulation, at least one herbicide regulation, at least one fungicide regulation, maintaining the buffer rows, and maintaining the distance between the crop and the plants beyond the buffer rows; (C) determining from at least one audit that the crop has been harvested in accordance with harvest protocols to obtain a harvested crop, the harvest protocols requiring the harvested crop from the buffer rows to be permanently separated from the remainder of the harvested crop, the harvest protocols requiring all machinery directly used in harvesting the crop to meet an acceptable cleanliness standard; and (D) only verifying the harvested crop if steps (A) through (C) have occurred.
 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising: (E) determining from at least one audit that the harvested crop has been stored in accordance with storage protocols, the storage protocols including at least one storage structure regulation and at least one contaminant regulation; and wherein the harvested crop is only verified in step (D) if steps (A) through (C) and step (E) have occurred.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the verified seed causes the resulting harvested crop to be higher in omega-3 fatty acids than occurs naturally.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the crop is a corn crop.
 14. A method of verifying grain, comprising: (A) determining from at least audit that verified seed has been planted in accordance with a planting protocol to create a crop, the planting protocol requiring sufficient buffer rows of plants and a sufficient distance between the crop and plants beyond the buffer rows to restrict the crop from cross-pollinating with other plants; (B) determining from at least one audit that the crop has been grown in accordance with crop protocols; the crop protocols including at least one insecticide regulation, at least one pesticide regulation, at least one herbicide regulation, at least one fungicide regulation, maintaining the buffer rows, and maintaining the distance between the crop and the plants beyond the buffer rows; (C) determining from at least one audit that the crop has been harvested in accordance with harvest protocols to obtain grain, the harvest protocols requiring grain from the buffer rows to be permanently separated from the crop, the harvest protocols requiring all machinery directly used in harvesting the crop to meet an acceptable cleanliness standard; and (D) only verifying the grain if steps (A) through (C) have occurred.
 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising: (E) determining from at least one audit that the grain has been stored in accordance with storage protocols, the storage protocols including at least one storage structure regulation and at least one contaminant regulation; and wherein the grain is only verified in step (D) if steps (A) through (C) and step (E) have occurred.
 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising: (F) determining from at least one audit that the grain meets grain standards addressing test weight, moisture content, damage content, foreign material content, and mycotoxin content; and wherein the grain is only verified in step (D) if steps (A) through (C) and steps (E) and (F) have occurred.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the verified seed causes the resulting grain to be higher in omega-3 fatty acids than occurs naturally.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the crop is a corn crop.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the acceptable cleanliness standard for the harvest protocols is kernel clean. 